Springfield, IL  (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Sean Grayson will remain behind bars until the Illinois Supreme Court either denies or rules on a request to review an appellate court decision that cleared the way for his pretrial release.

The decision by the 4th District Appellate Court is temporarily on hold while the request is being considered. If the request to review is granted, the decision will remain on hold until the appeal is resolved by the Supreme Court.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court entered the order that essentially pauses the appellate court’s mandate to set a hearing on the conditions of Grayson’s pretrial release. The appellate court had ruled that the state failed to provide clear and convincing evidence that Grayson was a threat to the community.

The petition for leave to appeal, filed Dec. 4 by Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser, asked the Supreme Court to review the appellate court’s decision.

Grayson, who is white, is facing first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of 36-year-old Sonya Massey, who is Black. On the night of the shooting in early July, Grayson and a fellow Sangamon County deputy responded to a 911 call about a prowler at Massey’s home in unincorporated Springfield. Body-worn camera footage shows Grayson shooting Massey in the face after asking her to move a pot of water from the stove and her uttering the words “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.”

Grayson is currently in custody in the Macon County Jail in Decatur.